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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Jacksonville State used a 17-2 run midway through the second half to pull away from the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team and earn a 75-70 victory over the Colonels Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Gamecocks (11-11, 5-8 OVC) picked up a season split with the Colonels (14-10, 7-6).

Junior Josh Taylor led Eastern Kentucky with a career-high 21 points. Senior Mike Rose chipped in with 13 points while freshmen Joshua Jones and Jorge Camacho each added 11 points.

Three Jacksonville State players tallied double-doubles while DeAndre Bray paced the squad with 21 points. Bray went 7-for-7 from behind the arc and hit two three-pointers in the final four minutes to hold off an EKU come-back attempt.

The host Gamecocks led throughout most of the contest and took a 39-32 lead into intermission. Taylor kept the Colonels within striking distance thanks to netting 14 points in the first 20 minutes of action.

Eastern Kentucky opened the second half with seven straight points to even the score at 39-all. Jones capped the run with his only three-pointer of the game.

After a Jones free throw evened the score again at 43-apiece, Jacksonville State put together the 17-2 run to go ahead, 60-45. Five different JSU players scored during the stretch including Toles and Bray, who each hit a three-pointer.

From there Eastern Kentucky responded with 10 straight points to claw within five points, 60-55, with 4:02 left. The Colonels twice had chances to get even closer in the next minute, but Jones and Taylor each missed on fast-break opportunities.

Bray’s final three-pointer with 1:44 left stretched the Jacksonville State lead back up to eight points, 66-58. The Gamecocks then iced the game by making 9-of-12 free throws down the stretch.

Jacksonville State controlled play on the offensive glass as the Gamecocks recorded 14 offensive boards which led to 18 second-chance points. Nick Murphy posted five offensive boards and finished with a game-high 11 rebounds.

Eastern Kentucky is now 1-6 all-time at Jacksonville State.

The Colonels return home to host Southeast Missouri in an ESPNU nationally-televised game on Thursday, Feb. 12. Tip time is set for 9 p.m.